Cleaner for bicycle-chains.



No. 628,087. Patented luly 4, |899. E. B. GIBFDRD. CLEANER FDR BICYCLE CHAINS.

(Application led Jan. 28, 189B.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

EDVARD B. GIBFORD, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

CLEANER FOR BICYCLE-CHAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,087, dated July 4, 1899.

Application filed 3'2t1l1lary28, 1898. Serial No. 668,287. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. GIBEORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Cleaner for Bicycle-Chains, rbc., of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in cleaners for the chains lof machinery, especially adapted for use on bicycles of that class wherein an endless sprocket-chain is employed between the sprocket-wheel on the crank-shaft and the sprocket-wheel on the hub of the rear bicycle-wheel.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a simple land cheap device which may be readily applied to the frame of an ordinary safety-bicycle and in operative relation to the sprocket-chain thereof; secondly, to construct the cleaner in a manner to compensate for the vertical and lateral play or movement of the sprocket-chain, thus contributing to the efficiency of the cleaner and reducing the friction and wear on Vthe parts; thirdly, to provide for the adjustment of the cleanerbrushes independently of the play which the cleaner is capable of in connection with the sprocket chain, and thereby sustain the brushes so that they compensate for wear thereof and are maintained in proper relation` to the faces of the chain for the purpose of thoroughly cleaning the latter from accumulations of dirt and refusegrfourthly, to-provide means for positively locking the brushes to the vertically-reciprocating carrier, and, ifthly, to ,provide for the ready detachment of the carrier bodily from the tubular holder of the cleaner and to facilitate the application of the device to and its removal from abicycleframe. Y

With these ends in view my invention consists in the combination of a tubular holder adapted to be attached to a bicycle-frame, a vertically-reciprocating carriervitted to said tubular holder to play freely therein and accommodate itself to the vertical play or movement of the sprocket-chain, means for confining the carrier on the holder to prevent accidental disengagement of the parts-and allow the carrier to have the desired vertical movement, and cleaning-brushes mounted in the carrier topartake of the movement thereof and having their working ends or faces opposed to each other and spaced apart a suitable distance to accommodate a strand or length of the sprocket-chain.

The invention further consists in a novel construction of the brush-carrier by which the horizontal play or swaying movement of the sprocket-chain is permitted without coming in contact With the carrier, in a pair of cleaning-brushes each supported in the carrier and adjustable therein independently of each other to enable said brushes to be adjusted toward each other to compensate for wear thereof, and in a novel means for locking the pair of cleaning-brushes in the carrier;I and the invention further consists of the construction and arrangement of parts,

` To enable others to understand my invention, I have illustrated the preferredembodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, jforming a part of this specification, and in "which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of a bicycle with myimproved chain-cleaner applied to the frame of the bicycle and in operative relation to one of the strands or lengths of the sprocket-chain. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of the chain-cleaner detached from the bicycle. Fig. 3 is avertical sectional elevation through the cleaner on the plane indicated by the dotted line d a of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a similar vertical sectional view on a plane at right angles to Fig. 3, the plane of section being indicated by the dotted line o Z9 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal crosssectional view on the dotted line c c of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of one of the brushes.

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

I have provided an improved cleanerwhich is adapted to be attached rigidly to a part of a bicycle-frame and which lembodies a pair of oppositely-facing cleaning-brushes situated in close relation to and in allnement with each other to enable the same to be adj usted to a strand or length of a sprocket-chain with a view to having the working faces of the brushes operate against oppositesides of said IOO attachment of the tubes 11 12.

sprocket-chain, whereby the brushes are adapted to clean dirt and refuse from both sides of the sprocket-chain. In a device of this character it is essential to the efficiency of the device and thoroughness in its working that the brushes shall be capable of a limited vertical play with the sprocket-chain in the variations which take place therein according as the chain is taut or loose, and it is also necessary in a device of this character to so mount the brushes that they may have a limited adjustment in a brush-carrier for the purpose of compensating for wear that takes place on the brushes due to the friction between the sprocket-chain and the working faces of said brushes. These conditions are fully answered in a device constructed in accordance with my invention, the details of which I will now set forth.

The cleaner in its entirety is designated in the drawings by the numeral 1, and it consists of a holder 2, adapted to be fixed on a part of a bicycle, a reciprocating brush-carrier3, slidably mounted in said holder, and a pair of brushes 4 5, which are su pported in the carrier 3 to have their working ends adjacent to each other and adapted to operate against opposite sides of a sprocket-chain.

The tubular holder 2 is provided or constructed at one end with a clip G, which is formed with a pair of oppositely-facing jaws 7, that terminate in the ears 8, the latter beng perforated, as at Sa, to permit of the passage of aclamping-bolt 9. This construction of the clip at one end of the tubular holder enables the device to be readily appliedy to one of the bars or members of the horizontal rear fork of a bicycle-frame, after which the bolt should be tightened to firmly compress the clip upon the bicycle-frame and hold the cleaning attachment securely in place thereon. To prevent defacement of the enamel or finish of the bicycle-frame, I preferably provide the interior of the jaw-formed clip 6 with a lining 10, of felt, leather, or other suitable material, and said lining in addition to its primary office of preventing defacement also provides a friction-surface, that contributes to the efficiency of the clamp.

The brush-carrier 3 consists of a bar or rod, which is bent at its ends to provide for the These tubes are arranged in alinement with each other; but they are out of line with the bar or rod of the brush-carrier, because the tubes are attached to the angular ends thereof. One of the tubes 1.1 is longer than the other tube 12, and said long tube is tted loosely in the tubular holder 2, so that it may slide freely therein in a vertical direction, whereby the carrier is fitted to the holder 2 to partake of a vertical movement freely with the sprocketchain. The elongated tube 11 of the carrier is provided with a longitudinal slot 13, with which is adapted to engage a spring-catch 14, that serves to confine the carrier on the tubular holder against accidental disengagement and yet permitsof the desired reciprocation of the tube 11 and the carrier, of which it forms a part. This spring-catch is shown in the accompanying drawings as consisting, preferably, of a leaf-spring applied laterally against one side or face of the tubular holder 2, and said catch is fastened securely to the holder by means of a transverse rivet 14a. At its free end this catch is provided with a locking-nib 15, that passes through ahole or aperture 16, provided in the tubular holder 2, near the lower extremity thereof. The nib of the catch is arranged to fit in the longitudinal slot 13 of the carrier-tube 11, and said carrier-tubev is adapted to play in the holder 2 within the limits of the slot 13 in said tube 11. To disengage the carrier from the holder, it is only necessary to retract the free end of the spring-catch sufiiciently to withdraw the locking-nib l5 from the slot of the tube 11, after which the entire carrier may be withdrawn bodily from the holder; but to replace the carrier the tube 11 is inserted in the lower end thereof, with its slot 13 in line with the locking-nib l5, after which the carrier is thrust upward to force its tube 11 into the holder 2, the spring-catch yielding readily to permit of the introduction of the tube 1l and the nib 15 thereof which spring automatically into the slot 13 of said tube 11.

It is well known to those skilled in the art that bicycle-chains have a limited swaying play in a horizontal direction, and to prevent the chain from working against the carrier and increasing the friction on the working parts I provide the carrier-bar 3 with a lateral oset 18. This offset is curved in a vertical plane, substantially as represented by the drawings, and it lies in the horizontal plane of the working ends or faces of the spaced vertically-alined brushes 4 5.. It is readily evident that the swaying transversely of the sprocket-chain is not interfered with by the odset in the carrier-bar and that the chain will not come in contact with any of themetallic parts of lthe cleaningattachment.

The brushes 4 5 of my cleaning attachment' are mounted in the tubes 11 12 of the reciprocating carrier 3 to partake of the play or movement thereof, and each brush is independently adjustable in said-carrier. to enable the same to be brought into proper relation to the face of the sprocket-chain and compensate for wear which takes place on said brush. Each brush Consists of a metallic ferrule or sleeve 19, a fibrous plug 2l, a bunch of bristles 22, and a resilient confining-band 23. The bunch of bristlesis thrust into one end of the metallic ferrnle 19, and the fibrous plug 21 is forced into the opposite end of said ferrnle, after which the resilient band 23 is fitted around the bristles adjacent to the end of the ferrnle 19 to confine the bristles compactly and firmly in position. The metallic ferrules 19 of the cleaningbrushes are provided with a series of annular grooves 20, any desired number of which ICO IIO

maybe employed, according to the extent of adjustment of the brushes, and with these grooved ferrules or brushes is combined va singleholding-spring24. Thisholding-spring is bent at a point intermediate of its length to fit snugly against the offset 18 in the carrier-bar, and it is fastened rigidly in place thereto by means of a single transverse rivet 26, which passes through the offset parts of the spring and the carrier-bar. The ends of the holding-spring 24 are bent at right angles to provide the locking-arms 25, which extend inwardly toward the carrier-tubes 11 12 and pass through slots or openings 28 therein. The arms of the holding-spring fit in the annular grooves 20 of the brush-ferrules 19, which are in alinement with the slots or openings 28 of the tubes l1 12, and thus the single spring is operatively connected with the ferrules of the cleaning-brushes to sustain both brushes in proper relation to the sprocket-chain. The tendency of the bent or angular arms of the holding-spring is to normally move away from the grooved ferrules of the brushes; but to overcome this action of the spring-arms I employ the adjusting-screws 30, which pass through suitable openings in the spring, near the angular arms thereof, and are received in tapped holes 3l, provided in the rigid carrierbar 3. To release a brush and permit its longitudinal adjustment in the tube of the carrier, it is necessary to adjust the tension-screw 30 and allow one arm of the spring to move away from the grooved brush-ferrule, after which the brush may be adjusted the neces? sary distance to bring its working face into proper contact with the chain. The screw may now be tightened to force the angular arm of the spring into engagement with the groove of the brush-ferrule which is in line with the slot or opening 28 of the brush-tube, and thus the brush is confined in its tube against accidental-displacement.

To use my improved cleaning attachment on a bicycle, the clip of the holder is Iirst attached to the frame by springing the jaws 7 around a bar of the frame and then tightening the clamping-bolt 9. -The brushes having been properly fitted to the carrier, the tube 11 thereof is slipped into place in the holder 2 and is engaged by the spring-catch 14. If necessary, the brushes are now adjusted to the tubes of the carrier to bring the workin g faces of said brushesin contact with opposite sides or faces of the sprocket-chain.

In operation the chain travels between the Working ends of the alined brushes, and the latter have sufficient frictional contact with said chain to remove any dirt or sediment which may adhere to the chain, thus keeping the latter in a clean condition. The brush- 'carrier and the brushes reciprocate freely in the xed holder with the chain in its vertical movements, and the swaying horizontal movement of the chain may take place in the offset 18 of the carrier without coming in contact therewith. The entire brush-carrier and the brushes may be readily detached from the fixed holder or the brushes may be adjusted independently of each other in the carrier to compensate for wear thereof.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and in the details of construction may be made by a skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make such modiflcations as clearly fall within the scope of the invention. l

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. In a bicycle-chain cleaner, the combination with a suitable holder, of a carrier connected to said holder to move freely thereon and to play in a vertical plane with the movement of a drive-chain under the variation in the tension thereof, and oppositely-facing brushes mounted in said carrier on opposite sides of the path of the drive-chain to ride against the faces of the latter; said brushesl being mounted in the carrier for adjustment therein independently of each other and both brushes being movable with the carrier as it moves in a vertical plane with the drive-chain, substantially as described.

2. In a chain-cleaner, the combination with a holder adapted to be fixed to a bicycleframe, of a carrier attached loosely to said fixed holder to move freely thereon and arranged to sway freely with a drive-chain, sockets spaced on the carrier and arranged lin line with each other to form a space between their contiguous ends for the accommodation of the drive chain, and oppositely facing brushes secured in said sockets with their longitudinal axes perpendicular to the line of a drive-chain, substantial-ly as described.

3. In a chain-cleaner, the combination of a holder, a carrier connected loosely to said holder to play freely thereon and provided with the alined brush-sockets spaced apart to form a space between themselves for the accommodation of a drive-chain, the oppositelyfacing brushes itted in said sockets for adjustment longitudinally therein and arranged to have their longitudinal axes at right angles to the plane of the drive-chain, and means for securing the brushes at the desired points of adjustment within the sockets, whereby the brushes are adapted to move with the carrier in its play with a drive-chain and the brushes are adjustable to compensate for wear in the carrier independently of its movement, substantially as described.

4. In achain-cleaner, the combination with a holder, of a carrier loosely connected thereto to sway freely with the movementsof a drive chain and provided with the alined sockets, a pair of oppositely-facing brushes fitted in the sockets for adjustment therein independently of each other and said brushes arranged with their longitudinal axes at right angles to the plane of chain-receiving space between the working faces of the brushes,

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and a common fastening device attached to the carrier and engaging With both brushes, substantially as described.

5. In a chain-cleaner, a brush-carrier provided with spaced sockets, the brushes having their grooved heads fitted in said sockets, a fastener attached to the carrier between the sockets and having yieldable arms which are engaged with the grooved brush-heads, and independent devices for holding said arms of the fastener from disengagement with the brush-heads, substantially as described.

6. In a chain-cleaner, a brush-carrier provided with spaced sockets, oppositely-facing brushes each having its head provided with a series of grooves and said brush-heads fitted slidably in the sockets for adjustment therein independently'of each other, a fastener at-v tached to the Vcarrier and having arms which engage with the brush-heads, and holding devices engaging with the carrier and the fastener-arms to insure independent adjustment of said arms into or from engagement with the brush-heads, substantially as described.

7. In achain-cleaner, the combination with a holder, of a carrier provided at one end with an elongated tube forming a brush-socket and tted loosely in said holder to reciprocate freely therein, means for limiting the reciprocating movement of the carrier-tu be Within said holder, and brushes one of which is fitted in said tube of the carrier and the other is supported on the carrier to have its Working face opposed to the similar face on the first-named brush, substantially as described.

8. In a chain-cleaner, the combination with a holder, of a carrier provided with tubular sockets arranged in alinement with each other, cleaningbrushes having their grooved ferrules iitted in said tubular sockets of the car rier, and a single spring clamped to the carrier and having its ends engaged with the grooved ferrules of said brushes,substantially as and for the purposes described.

9. In a chain-cleaner, the combination with a holder, of a carrier provided with the tubular sockets, the brushes having grooved ferrules in said sockets of the carrier, the hold ing-spring fastened to the carrier and having angular arms which engage with the grooved ferrules of the brushes, and independent tension-screws connected to the carrier and conining the arms of the spring in engagement with the brush-fcrrules, substantially as dcscribed.

10. In a chain-cleaner, the combination of a tubular holder provided at one end with a clamp, a slotted tube loosely fitted in said tubular holder to play freely therein, acarrierplate attached to the slotted tube and provided with a brush-socket, a spring-catch mounted on the tubular holder and fitted in the slotted tube to confine the latter detachably in the holder, and brushes mounted in the slotted tube and the brush-socket, substantially as described.

-In testimony that I cl'aim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD B. GIBFORD.

v Witnesses:

DORIS VAN DoREN, EARL C. MICHENER. 

